NASA Urges U.S. Public To See April 8’s Total Solar Eclipse—And Drops A Home Truth

“All hotels for the eclipse sold out months ago—you’re too late.” It’s a common refrain from people who booked their rooms months ago and want to feel good about that, but it’s inaccurate.

If there's one honeypot location for many U.S. eclipse-chasers on Monday, April 8, it's Niagara Falls—and you don't even need a ticket. Destined to be in darkness for 3 minutes and 29 seconds at 3:18 p.m. EDT, many thousands of people are expected to be at the UNESCO World Heritage Site on the U.S.-Canada border to witness its first total solar eclipse since January 24, 1925—and its last until October 26, 2144.

For a newly minted Texan such as myself, viewing the solar eclipse in San Antonio last October was spectacular. We took a short drive to the award-winning Confluence Park, a bucolic ecosystem that features a rainwater catchment along the San Antonio River, a green roof for passive heating/cooling and a constellation of walking paths that connect to the San Antonio Missions UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Ohio will be one of the busiest U.S. states for eclipse chasers on Monday, April 8, for its first total solar eclipse since 1806.

If you’re not one of the 32 million people lucky enough to live in the path of totality for the 2024 total solar eclipse, you may be one of the millions traveling to a viewing location. It is projected that Arkansas, one of the first states to witness this April 8 marvel that only happens once every 100 years or so per area, will experience its largest tourism turnout in history, according to the Arkansas Department of Transportation.

A total solar eclipse, one of astronomy’s most magnificent events, will grace portions of the United States on Monday, April 8, 2024. It will be the last total solar eclipse visible from the contiguous United States until 2044. The eclipse is will enter the country in Texas and travel through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine along with small parts of Tennessee and Michigan.

Over 14 million Americans will witness North America's total solar eclipse on April 8 while staying in a recreational vehicle, according to the RV Industry Association, after a surge in bookings and rentals.

Indianapolis is the most-booked destination across all of North America on Airbnb for April 8’s total solar eclipse, according to the online homestay marketplace. However, over 45% of listings on the platform are still available to book in “Circle City,” and 40% are available across the path of totality in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

Accurate weather forecasts for the path of totality on April 8 won’t be available until a few days before, but scientists have confirmed that cumulus clouds over land begin to disappear almost instantly when a partial solar eclipse begins.

On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will sweep across areas of North America.

Southwest Airlines and Omni Hotels & Resorts are teaming up to offer a special "Solarbration" sweepstakes ahead of the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024.The sweepstakes—which can be entered now through March 11—will reward two lucky winners with a prize package that includes air travel on a flight predicted to be in the direct path of the eclipse.The flight options include Southwest Flight 1252, which departs Dallas (Love Field) at 12:40 p.m. CT for Pittsburgh, and Southwest Flight 1721, which departs Austin at 12:55 p.m. CT for Indianapolis.Omni will do its part by putting the winners up in custom-designed guest rooms inspired by the celestial event. The special accommodations will be located at Omni Hotels in the departure cities of Dallas and Austin and the arrival cities of Pittsburgh and Indianapolis.In addition to roundtrip flights and accommodations for two nights, winners will receive exclusive solar eclipse viewing glasses and fun inflight experiences aboard their eclipse flights.

On April 8, the moon will pass directly before the sun, darkening the afternoon sky with a rare, total solar eclipse. For those along the path of totality, the solar eclipse will last around four minutes. With so many people clamoring to see this rare celestial spectacle, you'll need a plan if you want to be among them.